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Social Security |
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| White Papers on Employment and Social Security The Information Office of the State Council issued a white paper titled "China's Employment Situation and Policies" on April 26, 2004. This is the first white paper on employment issue in China issued by the Chinese Government. It gives an overall and exact introduction to the employment situation and the policies and measures that the government has adopted. Later, the "China's Social Security Policy" white paper was released by the Information Office of the State Council on September 7, which systematically explains the basic policy framework, achievements, as well as problems and countermeasures of China's social security work. The white paper, the first of its kind in China, reflects the government's people-first idea in governance. Old-Age Insurance Up to the end of 2004, there were 163.42 million people covered by basic old-age insurance, an increase of 8.36 million over the previous year. Of these, 122.42 million were employees and 41 million, retirees. At the end of the year, there were 37.7 million retirees of enterprises covered by basic old-age insurance, ensuring that all retirees received their basic pensions in full and on time. Unemployment Insurance At the end of 2004, there were 105.84 million people covered by unemployment insurance, an increase of 2.11 million over the previous year. A total of 4.19 million people received unemployment insurance benefits, almost the same as the figure at the end of the previous year. The urban unemployment rate stood at 4.2 percent at the end of December 2004, down 0.1 percentage point over the figure for the preceding year. Reemployment In 2004, some 9.8 million new jobs were created in urban areas throughout the country and 5.1 million laid-off workers were reemployed. As at the end of 2004, there were still 1.53 million laid-off workers of state-owned enterprises. All those registered at re-employment service centers received a basic subsistence allowance in full and on time and had their social security fees paid for them. Medical Insurance By the end of 2004, a total of 123.86 million people had participated in the basic medical insurance program, an increase of 14.84 million over the previous year, and included 90.33 million employees and 33.53 retirees. Guarantee of a Minimum Standard of Living for Urban Residents Guarantee of the minimum standard of living for urban residents is aimed at providing relief to those who suffer from serious diseases or serious handicap and have no source of income. The average minimum standard of living for urban residents is 159 yuan. By the end of 2004, there were 22.008 million urban residents and 9.52 million households drawing the minimum living allowance, a decrease of 460,000 over the previous year. Minimum Social Security System in Rural Areas There are now 1,206 counties (cities) that have established the minimum social security system in rural areas, under which 4.964 million villagers and 2.386 million rural households have received the minimum living allowance. In those areas where the minimum social security system has not yet been in place, a system of providing basic subsistence for destitute households on request is implemented. Up to the end of 2004, a total of 8.751 million poverty-stricken people and 5.263 million poverty-stricken households were being given this subsistence relief. Retrieving Default Pay for Migrant Workers Premier Wen Jiabao chaired a meeting of the State Council on November 10, 2004, which discussed an improvement in working conditions and in the social environment for migrant workers. Later, the General Office of the State Council promulgated a notice on further improving the lot of migrant workers, with the stipulation that the problem of default pay for migrant workers in sectors such as construction should be further solved. Up to November 26, 2004, the country had recovered 31.8 billion yuan in default payments to migrant workers, 16.2 billion yuan of which was recovered for the year 2003, in fulfillment of the stated goal. Special Care and Placement Allowances for people entitled to special government care and preferential treatment were increased substantially, effectively guaranteeing their living. In 2004, the expenditures on special care totaled 10.28 billion yuan, an increase of 1.49 billion yuan, or 16.9 percent, over the preceding year. At of the end of 2004, a total of 4.78 million people received state pensions and subsidies under the system of special government care and preferential treatment, an increase of 2.8 percent over the precious year. During the year, arrangements were made for 414,000 demobilized compulsory servicemen and rank-and-file soldiers, 15 percent lower than for the previous year. |
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